Golf-training device.



C. F. SMITH.

GOLF TRAINING DEVICE. AP`PL|cAT|oN man APR.16.|918.

1,279,924. d Patented sept. 24,1918.

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ATTORNEY y UNITEDISTATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. SMITH, 0F WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.

GOLF-TRAINING- DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern." Y Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at White Plains, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Golf- Training Devices, of which the following is a specilication. This invention relates to apparel, and is more particularly allied to the class of devices therein known as shoulder braces; and its object is to produce a golf training harness in the form of an attachment to be applied over an ordinary belt, by means of which the motions of the arms are limited in making golf strokes.v

The invention consists broadly of a air of guides fast on the belt, a pair of exible cords slidably mounted through said guides and limited in their outward movement thereby, and connections between their outer ends and straps which encircle the arms at the elbows. Details are set forth in the following specification and shown in the drawings, wherein Figure l-is a rear elevation of a player equipped with this training device, f

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation of the belt portion of the device,

Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged detail'of the strap for one arm,

Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the respective extremities of the elastic cord employed.

- The belt comprising a body portion 1 which is llexible but is inelastic and is intended to stand behind the waist line, side extensions 2 leading from the ends of the body around over the hips, and metallic loops 3 4at the forward extremities of said extensions and through which the ordinary belt (not, seen in the drawings) is to be rove so that the entire belt portion is clamped upon the wearer by the use of the ordinary belt which he commonly employs. The body portion 1 is by preference vslightly wider than the side extensions 2, and at its end or at its points of juncture with them it carries metallic loops forming guides r4 in the shape of rings or eyes whose bases are fixed upon it and whose bodies project outward from it. Through these guides or eyes 4 respectively are slidably mounted elastic cords 5 whereof each has an enlarged loop or eye 6 at its inner end andan enlargement of somekind constituting a head 7 at its outer end. As shown in Fig. 4 this head may well be made Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led April 16, 1918. Serial No. 228,920.

by clamping a metallic member upon the outer end of the cord-section 5, said member .having a flange 8 around its outer extremity. Secured to each arm is van armlet. This is by preference formed in the shape of a wide.

strap 10 having projecting from one edge a number of tongues 11 and having secured `to its other edge a corresponding number of buckles l.12, so that the strap may underlie the arm and the tongues may be brought over the top of 4it and connected adjustably with the buckles. At the center of the wide strap is a considerable hole 13 into which the elbow its so that when the player is in action there will be' little or lno impediment to the free articulation of his arm and nothing directly overlying the tip of the elbow to bear on the cords, muscles, or nerves at that point. Loosely mounted upon and transversely overlying the strap 10 is a narrower strap 14 se-A cured only at its ends at 15 to the larger strap, its center being widened somewhat so as to overlie the hole. 13, and at the exact center of this narrow stra-p is formed a small hole 16 through which is passed the shank of the head 7 when the parts are assembled.

In the assembly of parts, the ordinary belt is strung through the loops 3 and passed around the waist and buckled, and this leaves the belt element 1 at the back of the wearer as shown in Fig. 1. The elastic cords being slidably mounted through-the guides 4 with their headed outer ends within the holes 16 in the armlets, their inner ends or eyes 6 are now connected in any appropriate manner at the point 20, 'by some element which cannot p'ass through -the guides 4. It may be a metal ring or loop, or a flexible member, or-perhaps a short section of lacing such as a cord or thong looped through the `two eyes and with its ends connected with with the holes 13 over the tips of the elbows,

the training device or harness is in position to `atl'ord just that restriction to each movement and just that assistance in the making of a golf stroke which is desirable, especially for beginners. Itwill not be necessary in this specification to amplify the details of advantage arising from the use of this device, but it will be clear that as each arm is raised both elastic cords will slide through the guides eluntil. that eye 6 on the cord which is nearest the elevated arm strikes the guide, after which the raising of the arm will stretch the cord and the farther the arm is raised the greater the tension or resistance exerted. The free movement permitted before the stretching occurs depends on the spacing of the guides Je as well as on the length of the two cord sections The anged heads 7 are loosely and swivelly mounted within the small holes 16, and the flanges will be so far from the larger holes 13 that they will not touch the tips of the elbows. All parts should be strongly and durably made, and of materials which will stand weather, perspiration, and wear.

lVhat is claimed as new is:-v

1. In a golf harness, the combination with a pair of spaced guides adapted to be carried at the rear of the belt; of two elastic cords slidably mounted respectively through said guides, an enlarged connection between their inner ends and disposed between said guides, through which it may not pass, and means for connecting their outer ends with the arms of t-he wearer. Y

2. In a golf harness, the combina-tion with a pair of spaced guides adapted to be carried at the rear of the belt; of a pair of elastic cords mounted respectively through said guides and capable of sliding therein, each cord having an eye at its inner end and an enlarged head at its outer end, connections between said eyes, and armlets mounted on said heads and adapted to encircle the wearers arms.

3. In a training device of the class described, the combination with a belt element' having loops at its extremities adapted to' be swung on the ordinary belt, and guides outstanding from said element in spaced relation thereto; of a pair of elastic .cords respectively mounted so as to slide -through said guides, a connection between their inner ends larger than thel guides, armlets adapted to encircle the wearers arms, and loose connections between the outer ends of said cords and the a-rmlets.

el. In a training device of the class described, the combination with a pair of armlets each consisting of a. wide strap having tongues at one edge and buckles at the other and a large hole in its center adapted to receive the wearers elbow, and a narrow strap overlying the center of said Wide strap and having a small hole opposite said large hole; of an elastic element slidably connected at its midlength with the back 0f the wearers belt and having its ends passed through the small holes of the armlets and the extremities of its ends headed, for the purpose set forth.

5. In an exercising device, the combination with an elastic element composed of a cord, a metallic head at its end, and a flange at the outer end of said head; of an armlet having means for securing it around the wearers arm at the elbow, and including a strap overlying the body of the armlet and provided with a hole at its center of a size tol receive said head, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. SMITH. Witnesses:

R. C. ONEIL, ALBERT J. YoUNe. 

